"Return it to her?"

"Why should we? Cellphone use is prohibited here."

The two bodyguards looked on with disdain. They were certain that a few women without bodyguards could be bullied without restraint. Other guests in the private rooms along the corridor had originally wanted to come out and watch, but upon realizing it involved the affairs of the six major families, they immediately shrank back, not daring to get involved.

Who would dare to meddle in these matters?

Hearing the bodyguards' arrogant words, Wang Qiya's chest heaved with anger.

Zhou Yi Yi, whose cellphone had been forcibly snatched, had a livid expression as she turned to Ye Chong. "Ye Chong, are you trying to destroy the relationship between the six major families?" she demanded. "Don't forget, the Martial Alliance is still above us."

Zhou Yi Yi wanted to use the Martial Alliance to constrain Ye Chong.

But Ye Chong just laughed, his smile still warm, though his eyes revealed a hint of faint, unreleased contempt.

"I just wanted to invite you two ladies for a drink. Surely, that's not breaking any rules, is it?" Ye Chong said. "Has Old Master Chen Xiong started to micromanage things this much now?"

At this, Wang Qiya laughed in anger. "And you call snatching Yi Yi's cellphone 'inviting us for a drink'?"

"It's our rule. No cellphones while drinking," a bodyguard said arrogantly as he stepped forward.

At this moment, Zhao Xinyue also stood up. "That's right. The Golden K Bar often confiscates cellphones to create a good drinking environment."

Hearing this, Zhou Yi Yi and Wang Qiya glared coldly at Zhao Xinyue. But Zhao Xinyue was no longer as nervous as before. Instead, she defiantly met their gaze. After all, Ye Chong was present!

The others with the three women were shivering, too scared to speak. If even Wang Qiya and Zhou Yi Yi of the six major families couldn't escape being suppressed by Ye Chong, anyone else who stood up for them would only suffer a worse fate.

"Ye Chong, this is your last warning. If you don't let us go, I will have my grandfather meet with Alliance Leader Chen," Zhou Yi Yi said coldly, looking at Ye Chong and his group.

But Zhao Xinyue sneered, "Your grandfather? He can barely protect himself right now. How could he possibly go dine with Alliance Leader Chen?"

Since they had completely fallen out, Zhao Xinyue didn't mind bitterly mocking her former "besties."

Wang Qiya was both shocked and furious. "Zhao Xinyue!" she rebuked.

Zhou Yi Yi's grandfather's serious illness was a sore spot for her, and no one would ever rub salt in that wound. They even avoided mentioning it out of concern, for fear of causing her heartache. Yet, Zhao Xinyue had just ripped that wound wide open.

Zhou Yi Yi looked at Zhao Xinyue in astonishment. "What are you talking about?"

She never expected her best friend to completely turn against her and mock her so openly. Years of friendship, and it couldn't compare to one Ye Chong... Zhou Yi Yi stared in disbelief as bitterness began to well up in her eyes.

Seeing their anger, Zhao Xinyue felt a flicker of fear, her heart skipping a beat. But after seeing the look of approval in Ye Chong's eyes, her boldness returned, and a surge of spite rose within her. "Isn't it obvious what I'm saying?"

Seeing Zhao Xinyue continue to provoke her, Zhou Yi Yi did something that no one present could believe.

SLAP.

Zhou Yi Yi stepped forward and slapped Zhao Xinyue hard across the face, the sound ringing out sharply.

Zhao Xinyue's cheek swelled up instantly. She stared at Zhou Yi Yi with rage. "You dare hit me?"

"Why wouldn't I? You bitch!" Zhou Yi Yi shouted.

Just then, a bodyguard lunged forward. "You dare hit Miss Zhao? You're looking for death!"

He swung a fierce slap that cracked across Zhou Yi Yi's face.

BANG.

Zhou Yi Yi screamed as she was knocked to the ground. The bodyguard's slap was far more vicious than the one she had delivered to Zhao Xinyue.

Wang Qiya's expression changed drastically, a mix of shock and anger filling her. "You hit her?!"

"She started it. We're just retaliating," the bodyguard replied with disdain. They had been waiting for Zhou Yi Yi or her friends to make the first move so their counterattack would seem justified.

"You..." Wang Qiya clenched her teeth, her face full of rage.

Zhou Yi Yi's mouth was already bleeding from the slap, a clear sign of how hard she'd been hit.

"What about us?" Zhao Xinyue raised an eyebrow, her face smug. "Zhou Yi Yi was the one who started it. She overestimated herself, thinking her status as the Zhou family heiress meant she could do whatever she wanted. Young Master Chong was simply acting in the name of justice. You should be thanking him for not being harsher and for giving you a chance to repent."

Hearing this, Wang Qiya was dumbfounded. She could never have imagined a person's heart could change to this extent. How long had it been since she left the country? Zhao Xinyue was a completely different person from who she was a few years ago!

"Zhao Xinyue..." Wang Qiya breathed.

"Xiao Ya, don't say anymore," Zhou Yi Yi whispered, weakly reaching out a hand. She staggered to her feet and stared intently at Ye Chong. "What exactly do you want?"

Wang Qiya's face was grim. "Ye Chong, I know you're just targeting me. Let Yi Yi go."

She saw through it all. Their situation today was hopeless; they had fallen right into Zhao Xinyue's trap. No wonder! Zhao Xinyue had told them not to bring bodyguards today for this very reason! Even if she had a phone right now, she'd need Ye Chong's permission to even make a call. Despair flooded Wang Qiya's heart. And if Ye Chong alone was this arrogant, what about the enemies her sister usually faced? She finally understood the kinds of storms her sister shielded her from. And someone like Xu Ke... he was in even more danger. He was facing death itself.

Ye Chong smiled faintly. "Qi Ya, no need to be so nervous. I don't actually plan on doing anything.

"If your brother-in-law hadn't offended our Ye Family and caused the death of my fourth brother, I wouldn't be putting you in this difficult position.

"Just apologize to me now, drink three penalty shots, and our Ye and Wang families can surely rekindle our friendly relations."

Zhao Xinyue sneered. "Did you hear that? If it weren't for your useless brother-in-law, you and Zhou Yi Yi wouldn't be in this situation.

"Now that Young Master Chong is choosing not to hold a grudge and even intends to mend ties with the Wang Family, shouldn't you be grateful for his magnanimity?"

Hearing this, Wang Qiya took a deep breath and scoffed, "Is that so? Then wasn't Ye Chen beaten to death by your own men? What does that have to do with my brother-in-law?"

"Oh?" Ye Chong raised an eyebrow. "By that logic, if I let someone here force themselves on you and Zhou Yi Yi, it would have nothing to do with me, would it?"

As he finished speaking, the two bodyguards licked their lips, their leering eyes glinting as they scanned Wang Qiya and Zhou Yi Yi's figures.

A wave of intense revulsion washed over both women, and a flash of panic crossed Wang Qiya's face. If she and Yi Yi were really assaulted here, wouldn't the rest of their lives be ruined?

"I'd advise you to apologize to Young Master Chong," Zhao Xinyue said condescendingly.

Wang Qiya glanced at the bodyguards' eager stares, then at Ye Chong's sickeningly amiable smile, and finally at Zhou Yi Yi's swollen cheek. Bitterness welled up inside her.

I was too naive. Why didn't I just listen to my sister and stay out of trouble? But now, no one can save me. Images of Wong Qifu, Wang Wu, Lin Qinghua, and even Xu Ke flashed through her mind. But at this moment, none of them were by her side. I can only save myself! At the very least, I have to get Zhou Yi Yi out of here.

She took another deep breath and finally said, "Alright, I..."

Seeing that Wang Qiya was actually about to agree, Zhou Yi Yi turned pale. "Don't, Qi Ya!" Agreeing to drink with Ye Chong would have a dreadful outcome!

Meanwhile, a triumphant look appeared in the eyes of Ye Chong and his companions.

Just then, a quiet voice came from behind them: "Ye Chong, were you born in the Year of the Horse? Is your face always this shamelessly big?"

At the sound of the voice, everyone's expression froze. Ye Chong's smugness vanished.

Wang Qiya looked past Ye Chong's shoulder. Her eyes widened, then filled with overwhelming joy.

A man wearing a duckbill cap stood not far away, his face expressionless. His expression was calm, but a violent, killing aura was beginning to rise from him...

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